Root remains England’s north, south, east and west, working week and Sunday rest, comfort blanket and protector. He has never missed a Test due to injury and quashed any semblance of doubt about his own majesty with a chanceless, flawless 41st Test century, usurping his previous high score in Australia from Brisbane. In a team of possibilities, of boundless potential and talent but little to grab hold of, he is perhaps the sole definite, the only thing you can trust.